Mark’s bio

Mark is the founder and Managing Director of the Business Advisory Services Group (www.bizadvice.co.nz); a professional services organisation that provides accounting; tax; corporate governance & risk management; business consulting and secretarial services throughout New Zealand and Australia.  If you want to know more about Mark’s personal side, please read on

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Hello,

I was born in Changi, Singapore, and moved to the UK when I was 3 years old.

In 1980, I joined the Barclays Group, one of the world’s leading financial institutions until I left in 1985 to join the Royal Marines Commando, following my dad’s footsteps.  However, I soon realised that I was never going to “hack-it” and left very shortly after joining, with a #1 haircut!

I rejoined Barclays in 1987, and eventually worked my way up the “ladder”; enjoying a variety of managerial positions over the next 12 years.  Barclays is one of the world’s leading financial institutions and is engaged primarily in retail banking, investment banking and investment management, operating in over 60 countries worldwide, and employing approximately 76,000 people. 

Barclays gave me the opportunity to work throughout the UK and Europe and gain skills and invaluable experience in their Merchant Services; Group Finance; Card Services; International; Emerging Markets, and Group Internal Audit Divisions.  I had the opportunity to work and consult throughout Europe on a broad range of strategic and operational matters to all levels of management and staff.

In my last position, as Barclaycard International’s Risk Reporting & Financial Planning Manager, I analysed the Division’s credit risk portfolio in its Irish, German, French, Spanish and Greek credit card portfolios, enabling the Board to focus on profitable European sectors.  Prior to joining Barclaycard International, I was a Manager in the Barclays Group Internal Audit department.  There I provided a diverse range of risk consultancy assignments and value-based reviews of Barclays’ UK and European retail banking, investment banking and credit card operations. 

After a grey and bleak UK “summer” in August 2000, my wife, Karen, and I decided to emigrate to either Australia or New Zealand with our 2 young children, Rhys and Cerys.  After being accepted by both countries, we eventually moved to Auckland, New Zealand in May 2001 to take advantage of its lifestyle opportunities for ourselves and our 2 children.  The fact that it had no crocs; snakes; spiders; sharks and had excellent white wine had nothing to do with it!  We love the access to the beaches and outdoor life. 

In May 2001, I joined Arthur Andersen as a senior manager, where I specialised in providing strategic direction, risk management and other consultancy services to clients throughout New Zealand, Australia and other parts of the South Pacific.  My clients included a number of leading stock exchange listed including Cadbury (that kept Karen and the kids happy!); Contact Energy; Rayonier & Airways Corporation as well as some local government bodies. 

One year later, I was “head-hunted” by another leading global accounting and consulting firm, KPMG, to head their Auckland based Risk & Advisory Services Division where I continued to focus on corporate governance and risk management services.  My key clients there included NZI (now renamed IAG); ETSL; Metlifecare; North Shore City Council; Bank of Bermuda; Pacific Retail Finance; Powerco & Lakes District Health Board.  My experiences at Arthur Andersen and KPMG convinced me that businesses at all levels need access to practical, cost effective advice delivered in plain English. 

A significant (and very sad time) turning point in my life was in December 2002 when my mother passed away with Cancer, when she was just 61 years young (we emigrated the day after her 60^th birthday).  I vowed never to be a slave to the corporate world again; formed my own accounting and consulting company, named it Business Advisory Services (BAS) and now balance my working day between the office and at home.

Based on Auckland’s North Shore, BAS now provides accounting; taxation; business advisory and office support services to clients in the small to medium sized business sector.  I qualified as a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, whilst studying part-time at Barclays (I never went to university). 

I am a very keen sportsman.  I played soccer semi-professionally; played in the early rounds of the FA Cup and had trials for Aston Villa, in the UK.  My favourite sport is cricket (I had trials for Northamptonshire County Cricket in the UK).  I also held my school’s 800m and 1500m records for many years).  I love travelling (Fiji is a current favourite) and enjoy spending as much time as I can watching our  children play their own sports and relaxing with them, at home, by our pool in Milford, Auckland or at the local beaches.

I have been very fortunate to gain a breadth and depth of knowledge and experience in consulting to both the corporate and small business world.  I sincerley believe that this provides a solid foundation for me to be able to write, in plain English, on many aspects of running a business.  I feel that in the current day business environment, busy business owners deserve access to professional support and I have begun to develop a series of business support materials available at a fraction of the cost of a visit to an accountant or business advisor. 

I hope you’re interested enough to participate in the forums in my blog and use the information contained in it to take your business and personal lives to new, higher levels.  Feel free to check out my site and I encourage you to visit it regularly.

Take care and best of luck.

Regards,

Mark Gwilliam